Music Production Software; which DAW to choose? 

Music production software choices can be complicated! Let us help you learn how to navigate music production software and choose the right program to create music. 

What is Music Production?

Music production is the process in which you create and compose music electronically. Nowadays it doesn’t matter which genre of music you want to make, you will at some point use a music production software program or DAW to finalise your project.  

What is a music production software program?

Music production software programs allow you to compose and edit your music using a computer, like a laptop or PC. There are many programs available to use. The most popular programs we teach with are Ableton Live and Logic Pro but other options include Pro Tools, Cubase, Reason, FL Studio and many more.

What is a DAW? 

DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation and it’s another term used to describe a music production software program. 

Which DAW is better, Ableton or Logic? 

This is a common question our students have but both of these DAWs are seen as being a top of a wide range of programs you can choose from. Sometimes it comes down to price. Logic Pro X is £150 and available through the AppStore but it’s only available for Mac computers like a Macbook or iMac. Ableton has various versions but the standard version is $449 but it does work on both Windows-based PCs and OS based Mac devices. The workflow in Logic Pro is often described as being quite clinical and linear, where the workflow in Ableton is described as being more geared towards quick creative composition making it the overall favorite for many producers. Ableton also have live capabilities that allow producers to perform their music live on stage, Logic currently does not support any live performance-based features. Of course, there is nothing stopping producers using both programs and many do. 

Do I need any hardware?

Hardware is a physical object whereas music production software is just a program inside the computer. A good example of a piece of hardware is a keyboard, it’s a physical object you can pick up and use to make music. Some hardware is digital and will connect directly to your DAW which is the case with many midi-keyboards and the Ableton Push. Some older units may work more like a traditional instrument and have an audio output which you can simply record and then edit the recording in your DAW, an example of this would be an old Synthesiser which might have been made before USB was introduced. 

What hardware do I need to learn how to produce? 

You don’t need a huge recording studio to make electronic music. The basic requirement for most producers is a keyboard, monitor speakers and a pair of headphones. Advanced producers will often have a range of instruments, both traditional like guitars and digital like synths. 

What is a synthesizer? 

A synthesizer is an electronic instrument that generates a sound and gives you many ways to change that sound until you are happy with it. A synth could be hardware or software. 

How do I learn how to produce music? 

The best way to learn how to produce is to take a course. You can enroll in our one-to-one music production courses in Manchester, Birmingham or Oxford by clicking here. If you’re closer to London click here for courses there with London Sound Academy. If you’re not in the UK or can’t get to one of our studios look for a local college or follow some videos on Youtube. It also helps if you learn some basic music theory or keyboard skills. 

Still got some questions? 

Use our contact form to ask us any questions! Click Here.